Pallet construction

ABSTRACT

A pallet including spaced decks and tubular legs therebetween having doubled flanges engaging inner faces of the decks and end flanges engaging outer faces of the decks to hold the decks and legs assembled.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Howard 8. Rich 2533 N.E. 37th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

[211 App]. No. 786,873 [22] Filed Dec. 26, I968 [45 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 [54] PALLET CONSTRUCTION 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl. 108/51 [51 Int. Cl. li6 5d l 9 /l8 [50] Field 01' Search 1 )/5 L- 5 285/382 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9 ..H?Yl'.::t 1 1 8 Primary ExaminerFrancis K. Zugel Assistant ExaminerGlenn O. Finch Attorney- Pearce and Schaeperklaus ABSTRACT: A pallet including spaced decks and tubular legs therebetween-having doubled flanges engaging inner faces of the decks and end flanges engaging outer faces of the decks to hold the decks and legs assembled.

1 PALLET CONSTRUCTION This invention relates to a pallet structure. An object of this invention is to provide an inexpensive strong pallet structure having a smooth face on a deck thereof and sturdy tubular metal legs supporting the deck. H

A further object of this invention is to provide such a pallet which is provided with upper and lower decks spaced by the legs so that the pallet is reversible.

Briefly, this invention provides a pallet structure which includes plywood decks supported and spaced by study tubular metal legs. The legs are provided with outwardly extending doubled flanges which engage inner faces of the decks. Outboard of the doubled flanges, the legs extend into openings in the decks, and outer end portions of the legs are formed outwardly into flanges which extend into counterborelike sockets in outer faces of the decks surrounding the openings.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains from the following detailed description and the drawing in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a pallet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken on an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

In the following detailed description and the drawing, like reference characters indicate like parts.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown a pallet constructed in accordance with an embodiment of this invention. The pallet 10 includes a pair of flat boardlike parallel sheet decks 12 and 14 of plywood or the like spaced by tubular parallel metal legs 16. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the legs 16 is formed with outwardly extending doubled flanges. l7 and 18 which are spaced from ends thereof and engage inner faces 19 and 21 of the decks l2 and 14 respectively. The doubled flanges of the leg 16 are spaced sufficiently to maintain spacing between the decks for receiving the arms of afork truck or the like (not shown). Portions 22 and 23 of the leg 16 outboard of the doubled flanges 17 and 18 extend into openings or bores 24 and 26 in the decks l2 and 14, respectively. Outer faces 27 and 28 of the decks 12 and 14 are provided with counterborelike sockets 29 and 31, respectively, into which end portions of the leg 16 are formed to provide outwardly extending end flanges 32 and 33 which lock the legs and decks in assembled relation.

The counterborelike sockets 29 and 31 can be formed as the flanges 32 and 33 areformed Olll ends of the legs, the material of the ends of the legs being formed into the plywood faces 27 and 28 of the decks 12 and 14, respectively, so that the decks are tightly held between the doubled flanges l7 and 18 and the end flanges 32 and 33, respectively.

Outer faces 36 and 37 of the flanges 32 and 33 are flush with the outer faces 27 and 28 of the decks 12 and 14 so that the outer faces of the decks are unobstructed. The pallet can be reversed if one face becomes worn.

The length of the portions 22 and 23 will vary with the thickness of the deck sheets. The legs can be formed of galvanized steel or black iron or other suitable metal. In the drawing, the pallet is shown with four legs 16 but, if desired, additional legs can be provided for additional strength. The pallet construction illustrated in the drawing and described above is subject to other modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I. A pallet which comprises a pairof boardlike decks and a plurality of tubular metal legs extending between the decks, the legs extending through openings in the decks, there being a pair of doubled outwardly extending flanges on each leg engaging inner faces of the decks and end flanges formed on the legs engaging outer faces of the decks-with the end flanges of the legs being formed tightly into the deck faces to form counterborelike sockets annularly of the-openings to hold the decks and legs in assembled relation with the decks tightly held between the doubled flanges and end flanges annularly of the legreceiving openings.

2. pallet as In claim 1 wherein outer faces of the end flanges of the legs are flush with outer faces of the decks. 

1. A pallet which comprises a pair of boardlike decks and a plurality of tubular metal legs extending between the decks, the legs extending through openings in the decks, there being a pair of doubled outwardly extending flanges on each leg engaging inner faces of the decks and end flanges formed on the legs engaging outer faces of the decks with the end flanges of the legs being formed tightly into the deck faces to form counterborelike sockets annularly of the openings to hold the decks and legs in assembled relation with the decks tightly held between the doubled flanges and end flanges annularly of the leg receiving openings.
 2. A pallet as in claim 1 wherein outer faces of the end flanges of the legs are flush with outer faces of the decks. 